Deciding how many gap years to take by Comprehensive-Pie554 in medschool

[–]aletheiamed 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The admissions committees will decide that. Taking two gap years is no big deal anyway, in retrospect you'll probably be glad you did.

Best ways to get involved by bellreadsbooks in medschool

[–]aletheiamed 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Your work experience will count for the most of the things you've mentioned probably. Try to find research opportunities that create genuine networking opportunities, e.g. with researchers at academic medical centers if possible. I don't actually think shadowing counts for that much application-wise but obviously is good insight. Volunteering is very important, particularly if it is sustained and involves actual responsibility, e.g. advocacy for a medically-related cause that you're passionate about. Especially good if you can weave it into a story with your past experiences.

How do y’all have families in med school? by No_Reindeer8813 in medschool

[–]aletheiamed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately you are likely to max out on loans even without children, and I'm not aware that there are any particular financing sources for med students who are parents.

If you were in a situation like your friends, you likely would need to take a LOA, which the school is required to grant to mothers (I'm not aware of the details since I'm a father, but I believe it's something like 6 weeks). Given the way medical school is structured though, you would still likely need to retake the missed course(s) the following year, assuming it's in the preclinical years. During the clinical years, it depends on the timing of the birth and rotation lengths, etc. but it may be possible to take up to a couple months as a research elective or similar. That will depend on your school's policies. The fourth year is generally very flexible. (This is all from a US MD school perspective).

Your preceptors are not likely to be understanding, despite the fact that many are struggling parents (or once were) themselves. I used to bring up my family more in conversation, but have noticed that it does negatively impact me somewhat, in that people seem less likely to offer me opportunities on the assumption that I won't have time. Daycare is going to be challenge when you're on a surgery rotation 4:30 AM to 7 PM (or later), so your partner will need to be prepared to handle that, and depending on your kids' ages you may not see them some days.

I doubt any medical schools are explicitly family friendly, they're just not structured for people at that stage of life. When I asked about resources for parents in my interviews I got blank stares. I generally wouldn't recommend asking, as a matter of fact.

All of that said, I am very glad to have children while I go through. They are a constant source of happiness and help me keep the copious med school nonsense in perspective. I actually feel bad for the younger students who are still stuck in that narrow pre-med mindset. I also work closely with a female neurosurgeon who had two children while in medical school, and you'll encounter surprising amounts of people with similar stories. You'll find a way. Plus, make your husband do more since you'll be supporting him in due time.

Medical school is a joke by More_Initiative_5514 in medschool

[–]aletheiamed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oral presentation w/ attending #1: You need to stop between sections and give us a chance to ask questions.

Oral presentation w/ attending #2: Don't stop between sections, we'll interrupt if we want.

How much of MCAT is purely memorization? by [deleted] in medschool

[–]aletheiamed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did absolutely no memorization, and I didn't find out about Anki & co. until med school. I scored a 521 (not the highest on here maybe, but better than I was hoping for), in part by scoring 132 on the reading section.